South Africa's African National Congress will not name its preferred mayoral candidates before the 4 November local government elections, Daily Maverick reports, amid concern that doing so could split the party and weaken its campaign.
According to the outlet, the ANC's National Executive Committee feared that supporters of shortlisted contenders who missed out might stop campaigning. The party has 42 people shortlisted across eight metropolitan councils. Its head of elections, Mdumiseni Ntuli, confirmed the decision, citing the short time left before polling day and the risk of disappointment among unsuccessful hopefuls.
The move follows two missed deadlines. The ANC had promised to unveil its choices in August, then pushed the announcement to September, when it released lists of possible candidates instead. By keeping all finalists in contention, the party hopes rival factions will keep working for it as a whole.
Source: Daily Maverick
